The day began with Daaji going for his walk in the nature. 

At 9.30 a.m. he checked his e-mails and responded to them. He spent some time researching a few plants and later went to rest. 

At 4.30 p.m. Daaji conducted group meditation in which Sanjay Sehgal, Geeta Sehgal, Ajay Bhatter, and Madhusudan Reddy participated. After meditation, there was a discussion on land-related matters pertaining to the Siliguri ashram, and the group received guidance from Daaji. 

He also suggested a new way to inspire youngsters to participate in a new phase of the Heartfulness Essay Event, which would include topics such as ‘The problems I can solve’. He said he would like to institute awards for young innovators this time. He also expressed his wish to create scholarship funds for the students of THLC [The Heartfulness Learning Center].

At 5.15 p.m., Dr Sarath, Suresh from the Harley’s group, Rahul Rao and Kranthi Kiran from the TRS party, and a few others joined Daaji in his office. At 5.30 p.m. he conducted meditation for all present. 

After meditation, Daaji spoke to Suresh from the Harley’s group. He suggested them to offer their customers a very special opportunity to learn to meditate by opening spirituality clubs at their joints. 

Daaji then called Kapil, a young boy residing in Kanha, to demonstrate Brighter Minds to the guests. After the demo, Suresh ji asked if the children needed to practice every day and what happens if they don’t. 

Daaji replied, “They lose the ability depending on the surrounding environment. If the family is in harmony, it is good. If they are not, then the mind gets disturbed and they lose that ability. I observed this when the Brighter Minds sessions were conducted in government schools and villages. 

“Children from the villages learn very fast. They also lose the ability very fast because the proper environment is not there in the house. Parents don’t meditate. They are so much into rituals and other stuff that the calmness that should prevail in a person is missing in the villages. So, that has to be there. 

Parents have to radiate poise; that is a precondition. If children keep watching TV and playing video games, they’ll lose the ability instantly.”

Suresh ji wanted to know if there was any way to keep children away from the distractions caused by addiction to gadgets.

Daaji said, “Unless you have something higher in mind, you cannot disconnect yourself from the lower. For these children, playing video games is a high ambition. When they come across something new like God-Realization, there is initial excitement but afterward they lose it. So I would say it entirely depends on the environment in the house, the family environment.”

Daaji further clarified that Brighter Minds was not a miracle. By practicing continuously, there is a new network formed in the brain from which new abilities emerge. Children have to practice regularly and keep using those abilities, otherwise, the new neuron network that is created by the initial learning will be lost. 

The discussion continued till 7 p.m. Later Daaji went for his rounds in the ashram, inspecting the pond in the Madhuvanam premises and a few other areas.